Package and lower-package buffer member

ABSTRACT

The invention provides packages that keep articles to be packaged from losing sufficient shock-proof property when the articles to be packaged are dropped while the trend of compactness and light weight of electronic apparatus is advanced. The package can include a container, a lower-package buffer member, an article to be packaged, and a storing member. The lower-package buffer member is placed on the lower surface side of the container, including a concave area provided in the center thereof to place an article to be packaged therein, a skirt portion provided at the periphery of the concave area so as to surround the concave area, and a plurality of protruding ribs provided under the lower surface of the concave area so as to enhance shock-buffering effect. The article to be packaged can be placed above the upper surface of the concave area of the lower-package buffer member. The storing member can be placed above the upper surface of the article to be packaged, storing an accessory and/or an instruction manual of the article to be packaged. Moreover, a notch is formed in the skirt portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a package that an article to be packaged, such as an electronic apparatus, is packaged in a container. The present invention also relates to a lower-package buffer member preferably employed in the package.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Currently, electronic apparatus, such as computers, printers and projectors, and precision instruments, are normally held with a pair of upper and lower-package buffer members and stored in a container to be shipped. The package buffer members are usually made of foamed plastic or pulp-mold whose shape fits to the shape of a product. Nowadays, only the lower-package buffer member employs a relatively expensive package buffer made of foamed plastic, and an accessory box and an accessory tray that store accessories of a product also function as the upper-package buffer member in some packages and packaging methods. Accordingly, the number of relatively expensive package buffer members can be reduced by half, thereby promoting packaging cost reduction. Also, the package capacity is reduced, thereby promoting transportation cost reduction.

[0005]FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate a conventional package and a conventional packaging method as described above. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the conventional package that employs an accessory tray as an upper-package buffer member. As shown in FIG. 7, a conventional package 900 can include a container 10, a bottom protector 20 placed on the bottom of the container 10, a lower-package buffer member 30 placed over the bottom protector 20, including a concave area at the center of the buffer member 30, an article to be packaged P placed in the concave area of the lower-package buffer member 30, and an accessory tray 50 made of cardboard placed above the article to be packaged P.

[0006] The lower-package buffer member 30 is provided with a skirt portion 34 at the periphery so as to maintain its strength. Moreover, the accessory tray 50 stores an accessory P1 and an instruction manual M1 therein. The container 10 also can have a handhold opening 10C to grab for carrying the container and an opening 10D for inserting an additional accessory P2 and/or another instruction manual M2 if desired at a shipping destination, for example, an overseas destination.

[0007]FIG. 8 illustrates a packaging method of packaging the conventional package shown in FIG. 7. The conventional package 900 can be packaged in the following manner as shown in FIG. 8. More specifically, the bottom protector 20 is first placed on the bottom of the container 10, and the lower-package buffer member 30 is then placed over the bottom protector 20. Subsequently, the article to be packaged P is placed in the concave area of the lower-package buffer member 30. The accessory tray 50 made of cardboard stores an accessory and/or an instruction manual in advance and is then placed above the article to be packaged P. After that, the container is closed with a lid, thereby formed into the package 900.

[0008] As described above, the conventional package employs an arrangement that the lower-package buffer member 30 is placed under the article to be packaged P while the accessory tray 50 made of cardboard is placed above the article to be packaged P, also serving as the upper-package buffer member. Hence, this arrangement enhances shock-proof property with shock-buffering effects by the lower-package buffer member 30 and the accessory tray 50, and the package is safely shipped to the shipping destination even if it is dropped underway the shipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] However, as an article to be packaged gets light in some cases in association with trend of compactness and light weight of electronic apparatus as a whole, and the strength of the lower-package buffer member can become relatively excessive with respect to the article to be packaged. As a result, the lower-package buffer member lacks shock-buffering effect, and the package loses sufficient shock-proof property when it is dropped.

[0010] The present invention has been achieved in light of the above described problem. The present invention can provide a package that is prevented from losing sufficient shock-proof property when it is dropped, while the trend of compactness and light weight of articles to be packaged, such as electronic apparatus, is advanced. The present invention also provides a lower-package buffer member to be employed in such an advanced package.

[0011] package according to the present invention can include a container, a lower-package buffer member, an article to be packaged, and a storing member. The lower-package buffer member can be placed on the lower surface side of the container including a concave area provided in the center thereof to place an article to be packaged therein, a skirt portion provided at the periphery of the concave area so as to surround the concave area, and a plurality of protruding ribs provided under the lower surface of the concave area so as to enhance shock-buffering effect. The article to be packaged is placed above the upper surface of the concave area of the lower-package buffer member. The storing member is placed above the upper surface of the article to be packaged, storing an accessory and/or an instruction manual of the article to be packaged. Moreover, a notch is formed in the skirt portion.

[0012] Hence, in the package of the present invention, the notch is provided for the skirt portion of the lower-package buffer member, thereby lowering the strength of the lower-package buffer member. The strength of the lower-package buffer member is therefore prevented from getting relatively excessive with respect to the article to be packaged even if trend of compactness and light weight of the article to packaged is advanced. As a result, the lower-package buffer member is kept from lacking shock-buffering effect, and the package can be kept from losing sufficient shock-proof property when it is dropped. Although removal of the skirt portion itself is also conceivable in order to lower the strength of the lower-package buffer member, the strength of the lower-package buffer member would be lowered too much by such a removal, being relatively too low with respect to the article to be packaged. Therefore, the notch is provided for the skirt portion instead of the removal of the skirt portion itself.

[0013] The notch is preferably provided for the skirt portion of the package described above at any one of the sides of the lower-package buffer member. This arrangement enables any one of the sides of the lower-package buffer member to have its strength lowered while keeping a balance. The package can therefore be prevented from losing sufficient shock-proof property even when it is inclined to any side thereof and dropped.

[0014] Four corners of the skirt portion preferably support the lower-package buffer member of the package described above. This arrangement enables the lower-package buffer member to be supported at the four corners. Thus, the package can be prevented from losing sufficient shock-proof property even when inclined to any side thereof and dropped.

[0015] In the lower-package buffer member of the package described above, the ratio of the length of sides of the skirt portion excluding portions with notches to the total length of sides of the skirt portion is preferably 5 percent or more, and more preferably 10 percent or more. This arrangement prevents the notches of the skirt portion from getting too large and the strength of the lower-package buffer member from getting too low. Moreover, the ratio of the length of sides of the skirt portion excluding portions with the notches to the total length of sides of the skirt portion is preferably 90 percent or less, and more preferably 70 percent or less. This arrangement prevents the notches of the skirt portion from getting too small and the strength of the lower-package buffer member from getting too high.

[0016] A package according to the present invention can include a container, a lower-package buffer member, an article to be packaged, and a storing member. The lower-package buffer member can be placed on the lower surface side of the container, including a concave area provided in the center of the lower-package buffer member to place an article to be packaged therein, a skirt portion provided at the periphery of the concave area so as to surround the concave area, and a plurality of protruding ribs provided under the lower surface of the concave area so as to enhance shock-buffering effect. The article to be packaged is placed above the upper surface of the concave area of the lower-package buffer member. The storing member is placed above the upper surface of the article to be packaged, storing an accessory and/or an instruction manual of the article to be packaged. Moreover, the angle at the tip of the largest protruding rib among the plurality of protruding ribs is 90 or more degree.

[0017] With this arrangement, the package of the present invention includes the largest protruding rib, and the angle at the tip of the rib is 90 or more degree. Since the angle is set to be relatively large, the protruding rib is readily deformed or broken when stress is applied thereto in a direction from the upper side to the lower side, thereby lowering the strength of the lower-package buffer member. Accordingly, the strength of the lower-package buffer member is kept from getting relatively excessive with respect to the article to be packaged even if trend of compactness and light weight of the article to be packaged is advanced. Consequently, the lower-package buffer member is prevented from lacking shock-buffering effect, such that the package is kept from losing sufficient shock-proof property when it is dropped. From this point of view, it is further preferable that the angle at the tip of the largest protruding rib among the plurality of protruding ribs is 120 degrees or more.

[0018] package according to the present invention can include a container, a lower-package buffer member, an article to be packaged, and a storing member. The lower-package buffer member is placed on the lower surface side of the container, including a concave area provided in the center of the lower-package buffer member to place an article to be packaged therein, a skirt portion provided at the periphery of the concave area so as to surround the concave area, and a plurality of protruding ribs provided under the lower surface of the concave area so as to enhance shock-buffering effect. The article to be packaged is placed above the upper surface of the concave area of the lower-package buffer member. The storing member is placed above the upper surface of the article to be packaged, storing an accessory and/or an instruction manual of the article to be packaged. Moreover, tip of any one of a plurality of protruding ribs is positioned above the bottom of the skirt portion in a direction from the upper side to the lower side of the lower-package buffer member.

[0019] With this arrangement, in the package of the present invention, the tip of any one of the protruding ribs can be positioned above the bottom of the skirt portion. Accordingly, when the package is dropped with the bottom thereof facing the direction that the package falls, the shock is first absorbed only with the skirt portion. Therefore, this arrangement prevents the strength of the lower-package buffer member from getting relatively too high with respect to the article to be packaged even if trend of compactness and light weight of the article to be packaged is advanced. Consequently, the lower-package buffer member is kept from lacking shock-buffering effect, and the package is thus prevented from losing sufficient shock-proof property when it is dropped.

[0020] Moreover, when damage from dropping the package is so great that the skirt portion is broken, the protruding ribs also absorb the shock. Therefore, even when damage from dropping the package is great, the article to be packaged is kept from hitting against the bottom of the package and thereby getting broken. From this point of view, it is preferable that tips of the plurality of protruding ribs be placed at slightly different positions, not at the same position, in a direction from the upper side to the lower side of the lower-package buffer member.

[0021] The package according to the above invention preferably includes the lower-package buffer member made of either pulp-mold or foamed plastic. This arrangement enables the package to readily demonstrate its sufficient shock-proof property when the package is dropped with the bottom thereof facing the falling direction. The arrangement also facilitates measures for compliance with Containers and Packaging Recycling Law.

[0022] The package according to the above invention preferably includes the lower-package buffer member made of cardboard. With this arrangement, the cardboard demonstrates shock-buffering effect, such that the package has improved shock-proof property.

[0023] A lower-package buffer member of the present invention is for use in the package described in the above invention.

[0024] The lower-package buffer member according to the present invention is suitable for creating the excellent package as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals reference like elements, and wherein:

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an exemplary package according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the exemplary package according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 3 shows an assembly drawing of the package according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram of a lower-package buffer member according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram of the lower-package buffer member according to the first embodiment;

[0031]FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram of the protruding rib of the lower-package buffer member according to the first embodiment;

[0032]FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a conventional package; and

[0033]FIG. 8 shows an assembly drawing of the conventional package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034]FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an exemplary package according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a side panel, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an end panel.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a package 100 can include a container 10, a lower-package buffer member 130, an article to be packaged P, and an accessory box 50. The lower-package buffer member 130 is placed on the lower surface side of the container, including a concave area 132 to place the article to be packaged at the center of the lower-package buffer member. Moreover, the article to be packaged P is placed in the concave area of the lower-package buffer member 130, and the accessory box 50 has a structure that stores an accessory P1 and/or an instruction manual M1 of the article to be packaged that are placed above the upper surface of the article to be packaged P. A bottom protector 20 is placed under the lower-package buffer member 130.

[0036] The lower-package buffer member 130 of the package according to the embodiment can include a skirt portion 134 provided at the periphery of the concave area 132 in a manner to surround the concave area and a plurality of protruding ribs 138 that is provided under the lower surface of the concave area 132 so as to enhance shock-buffering effect. The skirt portion 134 is provided with notches 136.

[0037] With this arrangement, the strength of the lower-package buffer member 130 of the package 100 is lowered due to the notches provided for the skirt portion 134 of the lower-package buffer member 130. Consequently, this feature precludes the strength of the lower-package buffer member 130 from getting relatively excessive with respect to the article to be packaged P even if trend of compactness and light weight of the article to be packaged P is advanced. As a result, the lower-package buffer member 130 can be prevented from lacking shock-buffering effect, and the package 100 can be kept from losing sufficient shockproof property when it is dropped.

[0038] Any one of the sides of the skirt portion 134 can be provided with the notch. The four corners of the skirt portion 134 support the lower-package buffer member 130. Accordingly, the lower-package buffer member 130 prevents the package 100 from losing sufficient shock-proof property even when the package 100 is inclined to any side thereof and then dropped.

[0039] In the lower-package buffer member of the package according to the embodiment, the ratio of the length of sides of the skirt portion excluding portions with notches to the total length of the sides of the skirt portion is set to 30%. Therefore, the lower-package buffer member keeps an appropriate strength, and the package can efficiently be prevented from losing sufficient shock-proof property when it is dropped while compactness and light weight is implemented in the article to be packaged.

[0040]FIG. 3 shows a packaging method according to the embodiment. First, a bottom protector 20 is placed in the container 10 on the lower surface side thereof. Subsequently, the lower-package buffer member 130 is placed over the bottom protector 20, and then the article to be packaged P is placed in the concave area 132 of the lower-package buffer member 130. After the accessory PI and the instruction manual M1 are put into the accessory box 50 as required, the accessory box 50 is placed above the article to be packaged P, and then the container 10 is closed with a cover. Furthermore, the accessory box 50 is provided with a lid over the accessory tray and with a storage space on the side as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. The storage space stores an accessory P2.

[0041]FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show explanatory diagrams of the lower-package buffer member 130 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4(a) is an upper surfaced plane view, FIG. 4(b) is a sectional view taken along A-A, FIG. 4(c) is a sectional view taken along B-B, and FIG. 4(d) is a front view. FIG. 5(a) is an upper surfaced plane view, FIG. 5(b) is a sectional view taken along C-C, FIG. 5(c) is a sectional view taken along D-D, and FIG. 5(d) is a side view. FIG. 4(d) and FIG. 5(d) show the notches provided in the skirt portion, respectively.

[0042]FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the protruding ribs 138 of the lower-package buffer member 130 according to the embodiment. FIG. 6(a) is a sectional view of the largest protruding rib among the protruding ribs 138 according to the first embodiment while FIG. 6(b) is a sectional view of the largest protruding rib among conventional protruding ribs 38. As shown in FIG. 6, angle θa at the tip of the protruding rib 138 according to the embodiment is approximately 120-degree which is greater than angle θb of approximately 80-degree at the tip of the conventional protruding rib 38.

[0043] This feature allows the protruding ribs 138 to be easily deformed or be broken when stress is applied to the protruding ribs 138 in a direction from the upper side to the lower side. The lower-package buffer member 130 has therefore strength lower than a conventional lower-package buffer member 30. Accordingly, the lower-package buffer member of the package 100 according to the embodiment can be kept from having relatively excessive strength with respect to the article to be packaged P even if the trend of compactness and light weight of the article to be packaged is advanced. As a result, the lower-package buffer member is prevented from lacking shock-buffering effect, and the package 100 can be kept from losing sufficient shock-proof property when it is dropped.

[0044] The lower-package buffer member 130 of the package 100 according to the first embodiment can be made of pulp-mold. This enables the package 100 to exhibit sufficient shock-proof property when the package is dropped with the bottom thereof facing the direction that the package falls.

[0045] The accessory box 50 of the package 100 according to the first embodiment can be made of cardboard. The shock-buffering effect by the cardboard can reinforce the shock-proof property of the package. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A package, comprising: a container; a lower-package buffer member disposed on a lower surface side of the container, including a concave area provided in a center of the lower-package buffer member to place an article to be packaged therein, a skirt portion provided at a periphery of the concave area that surrounds the concave area, and a plurality of protruding ribs provided under a lower surface of the concave area, the article to be packaged being disposed above an upper surface of the concave area of the lower-package buffer member; and a storing member disposed above an upper surface of the article to be packaged, that stores at least one of an accessory and an instruction manual of the article to be packaged, wherein, a notch is formed in the skirt portion.
 2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the notch is provided on any one of sides of the skirt portion.
 3. The package according to claim 1, four corners of the skirt portion supporting the lower-package buffer member.
 4. The package according to claim 1, the ratio of length of sides of the skirt portion excluding portions with notches to a total length of the sides of the skirt portion being within a range of 5% to 90% in the lower-package buffer member.
 5. A package, comprising: a container; a lower-package buffer member disposed on a lower surface side of the container including a concave area provided in a center of the lower-package buffer member to place an article to be packaged therein, a skirt portion provided at a periphery of the concave area that surrounds the concave area, and a plurality of protruding ribs provided under a lower surface of the concave area, article to be packaged being disposed above an upper surface of the concave area of the lower-package buffer member; and a storing member disposed above an upper surface of the article to be packaged, that stores at least one of an accessory and an instruction manual of the article to be packaged, wherein, an angle at a tip of a largest protruding rib among the plurality of protruding ribs is 90 or more degrees.
 6. A package, comprising: a container; a lower-package buffer member disposed on a lower surface side of the container including a concave area provided in a center of the lower-package buffer member to place an article to be packaged therein, a skirt portion provided at a periphery of the concave area that surrounds the concave area, and a plurality of protruding ribs provided under a lower surface of the concave area, the article to be packaged being disposed above an upper surface of the concave area of the lower-package buffer member; and a storing member disposed above a upper surface of the article to be packaged, that stores at least one of an accessory and an instruction manual of the article to be packaged, wherein, a tip of any one of the plurality of protruding ribs is positioned above a bottom of the skirt portion toward a direction from an upper side to a lower side of the lower-package buffer member.
 7. The package according to claim 1, the lower-package buffer member being made of either pulp-mold or foamed plastic.
 8. The package according to claim 1, the lower-package buffer member being made of cardboard.
 9. A lower-package buffer member for use in the package described in claim
 1. 10. The package according to claim 5, the lower-package buffer member being made of either pulp-mold or foamed plastic.
 11. The package according to claim 6, the lower-package buffer member being made of either pulp-mold or foamed plastic.
 12. The package according to claim 5, the lower-package buffer member being made of cardboard.
 13. The package according to claim 6, the lower-package buffer member being made of cardboard.
 14. A lower-package buffer member for use in the package described in claim
 5. 15. A lower-package buffer member for use in the package described in claim
 6. 